Admissions and Registration

Admissions Policy

Montgomery College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in student admissions, student financial assistance, and other student policies and procedures without regard to age, sex, race, color, religious belief, national origin, or disability. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees of the College that all who are high school graduates, or the equivalent, and who can benefit from the programs and services of the College, shall qualify for admission. Others may also, under certain circumstances, be considered for admission. To accommodate the various interests and goals of persons requesting admission to the College, applicants, depending on their objectives and educational background, are admitted to the credit programs and courses of the College in the following categories: degree or certificate seeking (curriculum decided); degree or certificate seeking (curriculum undecided); or non-degree seeking.

Some curricula of the College have a limit on the number of students who may be admitted. In addition, admission to the College does not automatically qualify a student for all courses and curricula; some programs and course offerings have more stringent requirements. Students should contact the appropriate College departments and the Office of Admissions and Records for more information.

Criteria for Admission to Montgomery College Credit Programs

In order to satisfy minimum qualifications for enrollment in the College’s credit courses, in addition to submitting an application, the applicant must meet any one of the following conditions:

1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school.
2. Have satisfactorily completed the GED examination.
3. Be a high school student, or equivalent, who has completed the sophomore year with a 3.0 quality point average or the junior year with an overall 2.75 quality point average (based on a 4.0 scale) and be recommended by a high school guidance counselor or principal. The student must have an articulated plan for concurrent high school attendance and enrollment in college-level, credit-bearing coursework during the junior and senior years. That plan must have the approval of parents (or guardians) and counselor, and the plan will include all courses required for high school graduation. These standards are applicable in summer terms as well as fall and spring semesters. The deans of student services may recommend a waiver to the chief enrollment services and financial aid officer in exceptional circumstances.
4. Be a student in a public or private school, or equivalent, who does not meet the requirements in number 3 above, but whose achievement in a certain field of study is clearly exceptional. This achievement may be documented through testing or other means deemed necessary by the relevant dean, department chair, or faculty, and it must surpass the level of courses offered by the school attended. The College may admit the student upon the recommendation of the high school counselor or principal. The approval of the dean of student services on the campus where the course is to be taken is also required.
5. Be a student who is homeschooled and who is in compliance with state and county education guidelines. A verification letter from a student’s county home school program office, indicating that the applicant is registered with the local school system as home schooled, should be submitted with the application for admission. All requirements listed in 3 and/or 4 above also apply.
6. Be a person 16 years old or older who has graduated from, or left, secondary school.

In all cases, the College reserves the right to make the final decision on admission.

Admissions Procedures for Credit Programs

All applicants must submit an application for admission to the Office of Admissions and Records, together with the $25 nonrefundable application fee. Newly admitted students will receive a welcome letter with instructions regarding assessment tests, advising, or other procedures required for registration. Applicants who plan to enroll in selective admission programs, including the health sciences and some art and music majors, should contact the Office of Admissions and Records regarding additional admission procedures.

Applicants for Health Sciences Programs

The health sciences programs have additional admission and enrollment requirements. These selective programs are available only at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus and require a special application form. All candidates must be eligible for admission to the College (a Montgomery College application for admission must be submitted at the same time as the health sciences application, if the general application was not submitted previously); must meet curriculum admission criteria that have been approved in advance by the campus vice president and provost for the curriculum for which the student is applying; and must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for consideration. All candidates’ backgrounds will be reviewed for appropriate academic preparation. Applicants to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Polysomnography Programs are required to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) before applying.

All candidates who are offered admission to a health sciences program must meet all legal requirements and/or standards imposed by recognized professional societies and by the institution or agency where the clinical practice is to occur and must understand that participation in certain clinical courses (e.g., those involving hospital practice) requires the passing of appropriate health examinations (e.g., a TB test and/or certain vaccinations), drug tests, and a criminal background check through the Maryland Hospital Association Student Check Program. Certain clinical sites are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents due to their nature as a federal facility.

Applicants for the School of Art + Design at Montgomery College

Prospective students must submit a School of Art + Design (SA+D) application, a portfolio of previous artwork, official transcripts (high school or college) that reflect a 2.3 or better grade point average, and a letter of recommendation. Students must be accepted into the SA+D program prior to course registration.

International Applicants

The College is proud to have a large and highly diverse enrollment of international students from over 170 countries. International students who require a student visa (F1 or M1) should contact the international student coordinators in the Office of Admissions and Records for additional enrollment procedures. For details, see www.montgomerycollege.edu/F1 for details.

Applicants Enrolled in Another College/University

Applicants who are enrolled in another college or university and wish to take courses at Montgomery College must apply for admission and should submit a letter of permission from the home institution before attempting to register. Doing so will streamline the registration process and ensure the transferability of credit to the home institution. For details, see www.montgomerycollege.edu/visitingstudents.

Applicants Who Lack a Secondary School Diploma or GED

Applicants who lack a secondary school diploma or GED credentials, and who have not attended another college or university, are limited to enrollment in two courses per semester or summer term until the completion of 12 hours with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average, unless special permission is granted by the chief enrollment services and financial aid officer or designee. The campus dean of student services or designee may recommend permission based on documented potential.

Personal Interest Applicants

Personal interest applicants whose first language is English are exempt from assessment testing for all courses, with the exception of English and mathematics. However, they must meet specific course prerequisites and any other applicable regulations. The personal interest admissions category is available to those who have been out of high school a minimum of three years and do not plan to pursue a degree.

Admissions/Registration Procedures for Workforce Development & Continuing Education Courses

There are four easy ways to register for Workforce Development & Continuing Education (WD&CE) courses:

1. In person at the Office of Admissions and Records on any campus; or at WD&CE Customer Service, 220 Campus Center, Rockville Campus; or at the satellite locations: Gaithersburg Business Training Center or Westfield South Center.
2. By mail: send the WD&CE registration form to WD&CE, 51 Mannakee Street, 220 Campus Center, Rockville, MD 20850.
3. By fax: 240-567-7860.
4. Online at the College website (www.montgomerycollege.edu), for students who have previously enrolled in a Montgomery College credit or noncredit course.

Registrants will be enrolled in the order that registration and payments are received.

Students in the Adult ESOL and Literacy-GED Programs or Refugee Training Program should contact those offices for registration assistance, since the procedures are different from the four options described above. For more information, visit the website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/aelg/index.htm.

For off-campus and nontraditional credit courses and programs such as Distance Education and Assessment of Prior Learning, applicants must follow the same procedures required of all individuals seeking admission to the College’s credit programs.

Assessment Testing (Appropriate Course Placement)

The College uses assessment tests to determine skill levels for placement in courses. These tests help students identify areas of strength, as well as areas in need of skill development. Based on the results of these tests, students will be placed in the appropriate level of credit or noncredit courses. Students will also be counseled on developing a schedule with the appropriate mix of courses.

Different assessment tests and placement procedures may be used depending on the English language skills of the applicant. Although these tests provide opportunities for college-level course placement, some students may not be immediately placed in college-level courses.

The following students must take an assessment:

• all first-time college students who are seeking a degree or certificate or who are planning to transfer to another institution;
• full-time students enrolled for more than 12 credit hours;
• students who want to enroll in their first English or mathematics course; and
• students who were not previously tested or who did not follow their recommendations and whose academic records have placed them on academic restriction, alert, or suspension.

Students with documentation of previous college-level coursework in English or mathematics or with documentation of appropriate scores on one of the standardized tests accepted by the College are exempt from assessment. Personal interest students who are not enrolling in their first English or mathematics course may take up to 11 credits (in courses that do not require English or mathematics prerequisites) before determining whether assessment testing is needed.

Students must have an application on file in the Office of Admissions and Records in order to schedule a time for assessment. Students who assess as needing pre-college level courses are required to complete those courses before they can enroll in college-level courses.

Counselors and academic advisers will assist all students in developing educational plans that are best suited to individual goals, interests, and demonstrated skills.

Credit for Prior Learning

Advanced Standing Credit

Students may be awarded Montgomery College credit for prior learning in accordance with approved academic regulations of the College. The Office of Admissions and Records will evaluate courses taken at other institutions and tests taken to earn college credit upon request by degree-seeking students and upon receipt of appropriate documentation. Such documentation may include

• official transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university;
• scores from advanced placement examinations (i.e., AP, IB, or A-levels);
• transcript from CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests or the DSST;
• credit-by-examination for courses identified in the catalog with “CE” after the course title - Montgomery College faculty prepare and evaluate such examinations or designate CLEP tests to be used in place of internally prepared examinations;
• high school transcript and credit award form for approved transfer agreements between the College and Montgomery County Public Schools;
• transcript of technical training in a nationally accredited training program that has been listed in the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and/or American Council on Education publications; or
• military transcript.

Students seeking advanced standing credit for coursework completed outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an independent, accredited credentialing service. This evaluation must then be forwarded directly from the service provider to the Office of Admissions and Records at the campus a student plans to attend. To assure evaluation prior to the start of the semester/term, documents must be received by April 1 for summer, July 1 for fall, or November 1 for spring.

Credit by Learning Assessment (Portfolio Option)

Students may also receive credit for prior learning through the Portfolio Assessment Program. Call 240-567-7870 for additional materials and information.

More information about all prior learning assessments may be obtained from www.montgomerycollege.edu/transferin.